A district-level monsoon preparedness meeting was held on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, at the conference hall of Zilla Bhawan in Gangtok, convened by the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA)-Gangtok and chaired by District Collector‑cum‑Chairman Rohan Agawane. Officials from multiple departments reviewed monsoon response plans, standard operating procedures and site-specific challenges as the state prepares for heavier, more erratic rainfall linked to climate change.
In his keynote, Rohan Agawane warned that poor drainage and mismanagement of water are key drivers of environmental damage in hilly terrain. He said short, intense rainfall events are increasing and many existing drains and collection points were not designed to cope with such intensity. Agawane called for prioritising resilient infrastructure and better water management across urban and peri‑urban areas.
Agawane noted that much of Gangtok’s urban footprint sits along steep ridges and hillsides rather than flat valley floors, which raises vulnerability to landslides, waterlogging and other hazards. He said special attention will be given to road drains, local streams or “jhoras,” and PHE pipelines that commonly obstruct natural drainage channels.
The chairman reiterated the DDMA’s legal powers under Section 30 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, to issue directions to line departments, and warned that failure to comply could attract penalties under Section 51 of the Act. He also announced the formation of a Disaster Management Team, headed by a Disaster Management Coordinator with Supervisors and Assistants, to map the district and identify vulnerable points. An inventory of machinery, equipment and district disaster‑management assets will be prepared.
Superintendent of Police Mahendra Subba urged active coordination among line departments, quick decision‑making in emergencies and responsible conduct by frontline personnel. Zilla Adhyaksha Balaram Adhikari stressed continual readiness, inter‑departmental cooperation, prompt clearance of drainage debris to prevent waterlogging, and the provisioning and preparedness of relief camps.
Representatives from Roads and Bridges (NH wing), NHIDCL, GREF units, Forest and Environment, Power, Food and Civil Supplies, STNM and Central Referral Hospitals, Urban Development, Gangtok Municipal Corporation, Public Health Engineering, and Water Resources and River Development presented their preparedness plans, SOPs, manpower and machinery deployment, and emergency contact details. The meeting opened with a welcome by joint director Sonam Wongyal Lepcha and concluded with a vote of thanks from SDM Mahendra Chettri. The coordinated measures aim to reduce monsoon‑season risks and improve response across Gangtok district.
Original Source: https://www.sikkimexpress.com/news-details/gangtok-district-holds-monsoon-preparedness-meeting
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